Public Art

The City of Coquitlam believes that public and community art contributes to Coquitlam's identity as a diverse community with a vibrant cultural scene. As result in 2011, a Public Art Policy and Program Plan was created.

Evergreen Extension Public Art Collection

Statement of Significance

Nature, cultural diversity, transportation and local history are among the themes explored by public art installed at the Burquitlam, Coquitlam Central, Lincoln, and Lafarge Lake-Douglas stations of the Millennium Line Evergreen Extension.

Background

Seven B.C. artists were selected, by the Coquitlam Evergreen Line Public Art Task Force, to create 11 works of art through a public art selection process in 2014 that attracted 57 submissions from around the world.

​The public art was funded with $300,000 from the Province of British Columbia and $50,000 from Coquitlam’s casino-funded Community Capital Fund. The artworks will be formally introduced to the public in late 2016, following the official opening of the Evergreen Extension.

They Travelled These Roads

Artist:Mia Weinberg, Victoria, B.C.Media: Granite Description: In "They Travelled These Roads", the circle of a saw blade, representing Fraser Mills, frames the intersection of North Road and Clarke Road, where Burquitlam Station is now located. The images engraved on the granite represent the history of transportation in the area, connecting the wagon roads of the 1800s to rapid transit today. Photos:Image

Burquitlam: Between and Beyond

Artist:Brent Bukowski, Kaslo, B.C.Media: Recycled materialsDescription: "Burquitlam: Between and Beyond" represents a community that has been transformed. Historically known as a place in between New Westminster and Port Moody, Burquitlam is now connected by rapid transit. The sculpture celebrates sustainable transportation that promotes foot and bicycle traffic over the automobile.Photos: Image 1 & Image 2

Unity Tree

Artist:Paul Reimer, Cranbrook, B.C.Media: Recycle SkyTrain tracks Description: "Unity Tree" is hand-forged, using recycled SkyTrain tracks. Inspired by the Western Red Cedars, the trunk and branches represent cultural diversity growing and living together in a community.Photo:Image

Branching Out

Artists:Bruce Walther & YarOn Stern, Vancouver, B.C.Media: GlassDescription: "Branching Out" is made up of five artworks: the glass mosaic inside Lincoln Station and four tile mosaics located at the plaza entrances of each Coquitlam station. The artwork is inspired by a symbol used by landscape architects to identify trees in their drawings. The image is intended to reflect the local landscape and complement the name of the Millennium Line Evergreen Extension.

The artists dedicate their work on the Evergreen Extension Public Art project in memory of their fathers, Karl-Heinz Walther and Yohanan Stern, who passed away during the making of the artwork.

Photo:Image | Images of the tile mosaics can be found under "All Stations".

Pillow Station

Artists:Paul Slipper & Mary Ann Liu, Vancouver, B.C.Media: Granite Description: The "Pillow Station" offers a moment of calm and playfulness during the busyness of commuting. The collection of pillows contrasts the concept of a soft form with the reality of the granite stone. The designs on each pillow celebrate Coquitlam's multicultural community.Photo:Image

TransLake

Artist:Trent Hutton, Bowen Island, B.C.Media: ConcreteDescription: Similar to a tadpole's transformation into a frog, an old Coquitlam quarry was transformed into Lafarge Lake. The giant frog surfacing from the concrete celebrates this successful project.Photo:Image

Monohedral Tessellation

Artists:Dean Cloutier & Jarami Reid, Vancouver, B.C.Media: B.C. Pine Beetle WoodDescription: "Monohedral Tessellation" is an arrangement of a single geometric shape, with no overlaps or gaps. This sculptural mosaic is made from British Columbia pine beetle wood. The laser engraved images represent important landmarks, people and community traditions in Coquitlam's history.Photo:Image

Branching Out

Artists:Bruce Walther & YarOn Stern, Vancouver, B.C.Media: Glass | Ceramic TileDescription: "Branching Out" is made up of five artworks: the glass mosaic inside Lincoln Station and four tile mosaics located at the plaza entrances of each Coquitlam station. The artwork is inspired by a symbol used by landscape architects to identify trees in their drawings. The image is intended to reflect the local landscape and complement the name of the Millennium Line Evergreen Extension.

The artists dedicate their work on the Evergreen Extension Public Art project in memory of their fathers, Karl-Heinz Walther and Yohanan Stern, who passed away during the making of the artwork.

Coquitlam 125 Salmon Project

Media: ​Fabricated from reinforced composite fibreglass, the sculptures are over 6 feet tall, 5 ½ deep and 1 ½ feet wide.Artist:Jody BroomfieldLocation: ​Twelve salmon sculptures are installed at various locations (indicated below) within the City of Coquitlam.Date: 2016

Statement of Significance

​Salmon are an integral part of Coquitlam's story. Coquitlam's name is derived from the Kwikwetlem term for "small red salmon", from the days when the Coquitlam River was thick with sockeye salmon. They were also an important food source for early residents (First Nations and European alike), and in modern times, their continuing presence in our local rivers is an important reminder of the nature around us.

Background

​In keeping with the Coquitlam 125 vision "Stories told, stories to be created", 12 artists were selected from among 41 submissions to decorate the sculptures. The salmon sculptures, with their completed artwork, were unveiled July 23 and 24 at the Kaleidoscope arts festival, a signature Coquitlam 125 event. They were then permanently installed in high traffic locations throughout the community as a legacy of Coquitlam 125. The project was funded by corporate partners and community sponsors.

Salmon Sculpture Locations & Artist Details

Dennis Creighton, artist
A graduate of Capilano University's IDEA Program (illustration and graphic design) and Studio Art Program, Creighton's illustrations have appeared in a number of publications and his mural adorns the east wall of Lonsdale Quay. Location: 975 King Albert Avenue | King Albert Avenue & Porter StreetDescription: His design is a series of images depicting the creation, discovery and growth of Coquitlam, with imagery such as the river, migrating salmon, First Nations and French Canadians.Sponsored by:Austin Height Business Improvement AssociationPhotos:Image 1 & Image 2

Shohre Shirazi, artist
Shirazi is an artist and drawing teacher who moved to Coquitlam from Iran in 1999 and has been inspired by the City's diversity. She has participated in a number of Tri-City exhibits and art projects in the past several years.

Location: 3000 Guildford Way | Pinetree Way and Burlington Drive

Description: Depicted in acrylic paint, Shirazi's design portrayed a 21st century Coquitlam that carea about and preserves the environment, while introducing rapid transit as symbol of speed and the future.

Flavia Chan, artist
Chan is a graduate of the Emily Carr University of Art & Design whose art is inspired by patterns found in nature. She has shown her work in solo and group exhibits in Metro Vancouver and the U.S., and has worked with 3D objects such as vinyl toys and a sheep sculpture.

Location: 700 Gatensbury Street

Description: Floral elements, migrating salmon and a playful mascot named Kwetlem are part of her design, which represents Coquitlam moving towards a bright future.

Jenna Mortemore, artist
Mortemore began her career as an artist in Edmonton, where she earned a diploma in 3D animation and modelling. She has participated in a number of chalk mural projects and juried exhibits, along with community-based art projects.

Location: Coquitlam Crunch trail, off Lansdowne Drive

Description: Her design features personal stories and experiences of Coquitlam residents and celebrates everyday occurrences, within an illustrated map of the neighbourhood.

Iman Baradaran Hashemi, artist
A full-time artist, Hashemi has a master's degree in painting and animation and was a member of the faculty of painting at Iran's Azad University for more than 15 years. He has completed three murals and participated in a number of group and solo exhibits over the years.

Location: 575 Poirier Street

Description: Using acrylic paint, Hashemi showed the diversity of cultures in Coquitlam with human figures, circles, and natural elements.

Elham Sarvi, artist
An art instructor and full-time artist, Sarvi has been painting, drawing, sculpting and taking photographs for more than 20 years, and has exhibited her work in numerous shows in Iran, Ontario, California, and Metro Vancouver.

Location: 672 Aspen Street | Foster Avenue and Aspen Street

Description: Sarvi's design reflects the cultural diversity of Coquitlam, and used motifs inspired by the Korean, Chinese, and Iranian cultures to promote peace and harmony.

Maria Centola, artist
Born and raised in Coquitlam, Centola is an artist/illustrator and a recent graduate of Capilano University's IDEA Program (illustration and graphic design) who wants to use her art to convey the essence of her community.

Location: ​Town Centre Park, 1299 Pinetree Way

Description: Centola's design depicts Town Centre in acrylic paint and captures how Coquitlam expresses itself through sports, arts, education, and community events.

Jolayne Devente, artist
West Coast landscapes inspire Devente, who has degrees in graphic design and commercial art and has participated in numerous showings, live painting events and auctions around Metro Vancouver.

Description: Referencing Fraser Mills, her design covered the sculpture in abstract cedar bark in blues and purple, with cracks of yellow, orange, and red creating the impression the sculpture is burning from within.

April Lacheur, artist
A professional artist, Lacheur has shown her work at a number of solo and group shows in British Columbia and Ontario, and has created several commissioned paintings and projects such as wall murals and street banner work.

Location: 641 Hillcrest Street

Description: Telling the story of Coquitlam's past, present and future, her colourful and hopeful design incorporated salmon, First Nation elements, a river, a tree, and mountains.

Elvira DS, artist
Holding a university degree in design from Mexico, DS has produced more than 100 murals and has lately been working with 3D objects, including rescued pianos.

Location: 633 Poirier Street

Description: Created with acrylic paints and small mirror mosaics, her design will represent the past, present and future, and include a female side with the word "Kwikwetlem" and the year 1891, and a male side with "Coquitlam" and 2016.

Cory Douglas, artist
A member of the Squamish Nation, Douglas blends Coast Salish iconography with his signature style, influenced by a background in art and architecture. His work has been widely shown in Metro Vancouver and Squamish.

Location: 3435 Victoria Drive | Salmon sculpture has not be install as park is undergoing redevelopment.

Description: Douglas used Coast Salish elements such as the orca, bear, eagle, and salmon to tell a story in acrylic paint inspired by migrating salmon and their relationship to their natural predators.

Migration

Statement of Significance

“Migration” represents the flow of humanity which has taken place since the beginning of time. The piece, by artist Blake Williams, reflects the thoughts and perceptions of workshop participants who have migrated from another country and now live in Coquitlam.

Background

The project was created through joint funding from the City of Coquitlam and the Province of British Columbia’s EmbraceBC. The EmbraceBC mandate was to explore the immigrant experience through an art practice. The project's aim was to discover if Coquitlam is a welcoming community and did people experience bigotry, racism and intolerance?

The piece “Migration” was conceived through a series of workshops held during the late 2013 spring. The “Welcome Project” workshops used the medium of collage applied on wooden birdhouses. Each participant was given a preassembled birdhouse and they were asked to select images which signified their experience of becoming a Canadian and a Coquitlam resident. Eight workshops held, with a total of 127 participants. Participants were also asked to complete an evaluation form to gain more insight into their immigration experience.

The artist used what he had learned from the workshops and participants to inform the final piece. A grand unveiling of Blake William's final art piece and celebration was held December 5, 2013. View images of the unveiling in our photo gallery. Finally, read the artist's ebook, "The Welcome Project – Migration" for more information about the project, the process and its outcomes.

About the Artist

Blake Williams is a Vancouver based artist working primarily in public art. He has a background in photography and film with digital studies at Emily Carr University and specialized in photographic training at Langara College.

In addition Williams directed a documentary film for CBC Television’s series “The Lens” entitled “Lottery on Ice”. As well, Williams has completed primary filming for “Secret Fire”, a documentary examining spiritual pilgrimage and a music video for Alpha YaYa Diallo plus a number of short personal video projects affecting on family, neighbourhood and community.

Statement of Significance

“Coquitlam Synthesis” was commissioned by the City of Coquitlam in partnership with Pinetree Secondary in School District No 43, to engage youth and to support creativity and innovation in public space. Unveiled on February 17, 2011, the project was funded through a Multicultural Grant from the Federal Government.

The images in this piece were taken from a variety of Coquitlam’s cultural festivals and events during Coquitlam’s ‘Cultural Capitals of Canada’ year in 2009. Eleven high-school students worked under the tutelage of Pinetree Secondary School art teacher Brian Gleckman to create 31 panels that complete a 14 foot mural. Each panel is hung a varying distance from the wall, creating a striking, three-dimensional effect.

Work began on the piece in September of 2010, with completion in January 2011.

Statement of Significance

Opened on October 23, 2010, “Pioneer Spirit” is a gift from the City of Coquitlam commemorating the 1909-2009 Centenaire de Maillardville/Maillardville Centennial. The piece embodies the spirit of the pioneers who arrived in the area at the turn of the century, and provides a way-finding presence in the heart of Maillardville.

The kinetic work includes four sails and three solar panels, powering Led lighting and three listening stations. The listening stations allow you to experience a variety of sounds: natural sounds from the immediate area collected by parabolic microphone, archived recordings of the pioneers of Maillardville, and a choral piece called “Ils Rêvent d’un Village” “The Dream of a Village”. This piece was commissioned by the Societe du francophone Maillardville through the 2009 Cultural Capitals of Canada program, and is performed by “Les Échos du Pacifique”.

About the Artist

Douglas Taylor is a local BC artist. He was born in Chilliwack in 1947, and graduated from the Emily Carr College of Art and Design in 1981. After graduation he founded Third Dimension Studios Inc. in Vancouver, and since 1986 has created a multitude of public art pieces throughout North America. Douglas is the recipient of numerous awards, including two from the Canada Council for the Arts.

Return of the Sockeye

Statement of Significance

“Return of the Sockeye” anchors Coquitlam Spirit Square, and tells the story of the small red salmon that were genetically unique to and prevalent in the Coquitlam River at the turn of the 20th century.

‘Coquitlam’, taken from the native word “Kwi kwe t lem”, means ‘red fish up the river’. The Kwi kwe t lem First Nation’s history describes sockeye salmon so abundant in the Coquitlam River at spawning time, you could walk across the river on their red coloured backs. In the early 1900’s the B.C. government built a dam at the headwaters of the Coquitlam River to create a reservoir of drinking water for the growing City of New Westminster. The dam resulted in the disappearance of the sockeye. Nearly 100 years later, the Kwi kwe t l em people have succeeded in re-establishing a small sockeye run in the Coquitlam River.

“Return of the Sockeye” features a large red sockeye salmon arching its body over a concrete wall that represents a dam. The ‘dam’ includes an interactive water feature. Water flows below the salmon, over the side of the ‘dam’, and down luminous red glass ‘salmon eggs’. The water continues to trickle along a flowing arrangement of river stones and large rocks that weaves across Spirit Square, with more red glass salmon ‘eggs’ nestled randomly amongst them. A long red bench flanks the ‘river’, and provides tranquil seating. The bench lights up in the evenings, representing the backs of the schools of sockeye returning to their home to complete the cycle of life.

The Centennial Totem Pole

Statement of Significance

In 1967, to commemorate Canada's 100th birthday, the Columbian Newspaper initiated The Centennial Totem Pole project. The project is a tribute to the local First Nations, and reflects on the changing attitudes of the public, moving towards an inclusive vision of the community and its place in Canadian history.

The pole is carved in the Kwakwaka’wakw tradition of North West Coast First Nations art, as local Coast Salish First Nations art practice was not publicly prevalent at the time. The figures on the pole represent from top to bottom, Thunderbird (with bear depicted on his chest), Raven with Salmon and Killerwhale with man on his back.

Background

On December 1, 1991 the City added a fifty year time capsule adjacent to the totem pole in celebration of its 1891 – 1991 Centennial. The capsule honours the early pioneers of our community, and will be opened on December 1, 2041.

On May 15, 2007, the totem pole was relocated slightly northwest of its original location, as part of the City’s Dogwood Pavilion expansion and improvement project.

About the Artists

Lloyd Wadhams Senior was the eldest child born to Don & Mary (nee: Dawson) Wadhams. Lloyd learnt to carve on the beaches of Alert Bay. Sitting on Charlie James' carving shed, Mungo Martin and James Sewid taught him the traditional art form. As a child he used to watch them carve with his uncle Don Dawson and his cousin Amos Dawson. Every day they would carve little canoes and totem poles to sell to tourists.

Lloyd carried on the tradition of teaching carving to his cousins, nieces and nephews of the Shaunessy and Sewid families. Lloyd sold most of his work to galleries. As a commercial artist he was constantly experimenting with tools and methods to produce his art. He worked mostly with wood, silver, gold and print media.

At one time Wadhams lived in Maillardville, a neighbourhood within the City of Coquitlam known for its French heritage.

John Edward (Ted) Neel Junior was born on January 4, 1939 in Vancouver, BC. Born to Ellen Kakasolas (Newman) and Edward Lyle Neel, he was the second oldest of seven children.

John began designing, painting and carving around the age of 10, as part of his family's Totem Art Studio business. His mother, Ellen Kakasolas Neel, taught her children the artistic traditions of their Kwakwaka'wakw lineage.Working alongside his eldest brother, Dave Neel, and younger brother, Bob Neel, John quickly mastered the basics of formaline design, and quickly started work on larger commissions such as masks, plaques, welcome figures and totem poles. Throughout the mid 1940's to late 1950's, John also worked alongside his parents, brothers, and younger sisters in producing thousands of 'model totem poles' and other hand-carved pieces for the Vancouver tourism and souvenir market.

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